The auction was authorized by a court, which will divide the money between the IRS and other parties.

The IRS will get to exchange two decades worth of monthly installments for an immediate lump sum that would settle Strawberry's outstanding tax debt.

Strawberry signed with the Mets in 1993 and over the course of his 17-year Major League Baseball career, took home four World Series titles. He was named an All-Star for eight consecutive seasons and had 335 career home runs. But he was plagued by a cocaine addiction and other troubles.

The auction is set to take place in Illinois, but bids will also be accepted by mail.